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If you hadn't noticed, Lucky Frame have a bit of a theme going on with their releases.
Music - and in particular, player-generated music - is a driving force behind many of
the titles they've released. Wave Trip extends the theme by pairing it with a unique take
on the tried and true 'touch to fly' gameplay that was once so popular.
I say once, but those who have played Jetpack Joyride should already be familiar with the
basics of the game. Touch the screen to fly up, and let go to fly down again, hopefully
picking up red or blue coins on the way. However, instead of falling in to the endless runner
trap so many have stumbled on in the past, Wave Trip offers a handful of smallish stages
for each area; better still, they're all unlocked from the outset, so casual players can check
out the game at their own pace.
The trick to Wave Trip is in how the stages work. Much like a musical score, the stages
are made out of sections that repeat. In order to move on the player must collect all the
red coins, and avoid the purple enemies. Those looking to boost their score can collect blue
coins, adding to their multiplier, but repeating a section without collecting a coin or hitting
a pink enemy will reset it - advanced tactics will require deploying a shield in order to
avoid such obstacles (be warned though, you only have 2 and they'll refresh one at a time
per section).
Taking in the whole experience can be challenging, especially when the controls feel somewhat
sluggish. You do eventually get used to it and can exploit the heavy momentum of your
triangular hero, but there's no denying that the initial frustration.
Speaking of the visual design, the Patapon-esque minimalism works in the game's favor, making
it easy to distinguish between coins and traps. The audio design is likewise spot-on, with
the position and type of each element adding to the backing track.
Feeling creative? You can create and share your own musical stages with friends and the
community.
Wave Trip has its quirks, and the simplicity of its gameplay may put off some gamers, but
it's still a gorgeously presented experience and one that delights in its various challenges.